UPDATE: February 11: The victim has been identified as 57-year-old Erik Sherrer.
Portland Police officers shot and killed a man inside a Northwest apartment complex Thursday morning, February 5.
According to police, officers tried to serve a warrant on Erik Sherrer, 57, who pointed a handgun and tried to shoot at two security officers on Saturday, January 31. The gun didn’t fire at the time, and the suspect fled the scene with the handgun, leaving behind an instrument case with a loaded shotgun inside. Police say the shotgun contained shells with “threatening messages” written on them “that specifically named President Donald Trump.”
man fled the scene after trying to shoot security guards with
a different weapon. portland police bureau
Police say Sherrer falsely claimed to be a member of the US Secret Service when he approached the security guards. The incident took place last Saturday shortly after 1 pm at a grocery store on NW Lovejoy Street in Northwest Portland.
Officers searched the area and coordinated with the actual US Secret Service to try to identify the suspect. Eventually they tracked him down at an apartment on Northwest 14th Avenue.
According to the Portland Police Bureau (PPB), the Bureau’s Special Emergency Reaction Team (SERT) and the Crisis Negotiation Team arrived at the apartment with an arrest warrant around 5:15 am Thursday, February 5. Police say they tried to negotiate Sherrer’s surrender, but when he didn’t respond to police at his door, or commands and warnings to come out, they evacuated residents and used OC vapor and tear gas aimed at his apartment to force him out. Police claim Sherrer stepped out into a hallway, holding a handgun.
Two SERT officers fired at the man. One claimed Sherrer pointed a gun at him. When the man was seen laying next to the gun, they ordered him to move away but he was unresponsive. Paramedics at the scene were called in and indicated he was fatally shot.
shooting involving two Portland Police officers.
portland police bureau
As part of PPB protocol, the officers who fired their weapons are on paid administrative leave.
“As part of the use of force review process, the Bureau will conduct an internal review of the entire incident, including the initial response, resources requested, tactics used, and post shooting actions,” PPB noted in a news release announcing the incident. “The case will go before the Police Review Board (PRB), which is composed of community members, Bureau members, and representatives from the Independent Police Review Division.”
After the investigation and legal process, the Bureau said it plans to release the investigative files and any grand jury transcripts via its open data page. PPB also says it will eventually release body camera footage.
The shooting marks the first deadly force incident involving PPB this year. The most recent police-involved shooting was on September 20, 2025 when Bryan Velasco-Ruelas was shot and injured during a traffic stop. PPB recorded four deadly uses of force in 2025, but only one death. Damon Lamarr Johnson died last June after being restrained by police in his apartment.
